Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

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come great among the nations of the earth. The country was prosperous and the nation steadily grew, without any serious difficulties, until in 1812 England again tried the spirit and strength of America. This time it was a war on the sea. British ships seized American ships and seamen on the high seas. But we soon taught Great Britain a new lesson : namely, that justice and liberty reign, not only on the land, but on the sea as well. How well we remember Perry’s words on Lake Erie : “We have met the enemy and they are ours.’’ Our blood seems to flow faster in our veins as we imagine the tone and cir- cumstances under which these commemor- able words were spoken. Again we em- erged the victors, and this time we had the freedom both of land and of sea. We again started on a journey of suc- cess and advancement. We had eight times our original population, were stead- ily gaining in area and abounded in wealth. We had grown from a few states to a large and prosperous nation. No other country has had such a quick and widespread development. We Avere involved in no national dif- ficulties until in 1861 it became a question of whether or not the ' blackmail should have his freedom and obtain an equal standing with the whites. Another con- flict was the result and this time it was a great civil war. Again right was victori- ous, and in 1863, our beloved Abraham Lincoln, by a single stroke of the pen, signed a proclamation that gave over three million men that most privileged and divine right which God gave to every human being, liberty, the right to govern oneself. This was another achievement to add to our ever growing list. It Avas an eAent AAhich marked the pages of Amer- ican history, and a cause for AAhich many men laid doAA T n their lh r es. It established equal rights among men, regardless of creed or color. Noav again in 1919 we stand on the threshold of a neAv period in the develop- ment of our nation. We have just been engaged in one of the greatest conflicts that the world has CA er knoAAm. We have battled, not nation against nation, but nations against na- tions. We have fought not for our oAvn honor and glory, but for the freedom of the AAWld, to keep sacred these undying Acords of Lincoln, that, “All men are cre- ated equal,’’ with natural rights to the pursuit of happiness and of liberty. This time it Avas not a question of na- tional rights, of national freedom, for lib- erty and righteousness. Germany Avith her greedy hand of Autocracy Avas reach- ing out to crush the poAA T ers of Europe. She Avas AA T aging war regardless of interna- tional law. Americans Avere belittled and in suited. We Avere insulted on the high seas in the case of the Lusitania. Avhich had, perhaps, more to do with America’s entry into the Avar than any other single act. We entered the Avar, sent a seemingly never ending stream of khaki-clad boys across the sea, and to-day many of them sleep on the fields of France. Willingly and cheerfully, as Americans have always given, they gave their all. It is no Avonder AA ' e emerged victorious. It is no AA r onder Ave have the respect and admiration of the countries of Europe. It is to these hon- ored dead, that sleep in Flanders’ Fields that Ave owe all that AA e ha r e to-day. Once more the Avhirlwind is over. Noav let us all listen to the still small voice of duty that is calling us to soh r e the prob- lems of the Reconstruction Period. Let us all resolve that Ave Avill be Americans, with. American ideals and patriotism. Then, I am sure, Ave shall start on one of the most successful journeys that our nation has ever knoAvn. Such eternal troubles as lab- or agitation and social unrest aauII be un- knoAvn. Employer and employee will be A v orking for a common cause, the better- 8

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ally inclined, but we pity the neighbors when she starts on this fife. The mighty brained Valedictorian will surely need this small pencil to write her valued thoughts. Jane the cook certainly raised the dust on the Town Hall stage so that even the curtain came down after her. My friend hopes that we will all beware when Cora starts in with this mammoth broom. Bessie Chapman is a long distance from everybody, so as all women like to talk I have pitied her and seen that her present was a talking ma chine. E. Tucker’s highest aspirations seem to come in plain gold from the medical school. I hope this band will console her for the time. Marion Phillips is often seen walking on Central Street. May she put what she is after in this ponderous basket. Every country girl is brought in close connection Avith the chickens, but Susie Dewar’s flock is incomplete without a rooster. Ella 0 ’Brien is very busy fishing in the stream of life. I hope she succeeds in landing what she hooks, but I am afraid this line will not be strong enough. Elsie Jones has a hard time trying to find room for her face in the school mir- rors, so I have found one for her very own. Emily Hobart enjoys military affairs, but the best I could do was to find a sailor for her. CLEON JOHNSON, ’19. Presentation of Class G-ifts. AFTER THE WHIRLWIND THE STILL SMALL VOICE At last the whirlwind is over and once more peace reigns over the earth. Once more the supreme hand of justice has lent guidance to the righteous. Once more it has been proved that might is not right. Now once again the sun can rise and set on nations whose main purpose is not to kill, but to lend a helping hand to the civilization of mankind, wjhieh is ever surging ahead, in its evolutionary course. Mankind is once again looking forward to something better, something higher, is working to attain some more lofty ideal. But at what a terrific cost have these great achievements been accomplished ! Not only financially and socially were they dearly purchased, but also at the ex- pense of a vast river of human lives. Let us slowly and sadly turn back the pages of history, so that we can more fully re- alize and understand the circumstances and conditions under which these achieve- ments Avere made, so that our imagination will paint life-like pictures of these past situations and add neAV vigor and life to our patriotism and devotion. On the 4th of July, 1776, fifty-six men signed the declaration which separated us from the bonds and shackles of England and made us a free and independanit na- tion. A nation that might govern itself according to principles of justice and lib- erty, a nation that might govern itself ac- cording to its OAvn inspirations and ideals, and not according to the Avishes of a croAvned head three thousand miles aAvay! Thus, the founders of this nation were seeking justice, liberty, and self govern- ment. How our imagination thrills us when Ave think of Paul Revere and his famous ride and The Boston Tea Party, Avhioh marked the resentment of a people to unjust taxation; “taxation Avithout rep- resentation.” These and similar events marked the beginning of the Revolution. The war was Avaged, and seven years later Ave emerged victorious, a new na- tion on God’s earth, one destined to be- 7

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meat of the nation, and reconstruction work will be taken up with new vigor. The immigration question, likewise, demands our immediate attention. Should we be overrun with Japanese under the present draft of the “League of Nations ? ’ ’ Would any foreign element invade our country in such numbers as to produce discomfort ? Should we lose our national independence under a League of Nations? These are a few of the questions that must be dealt with as Americans have always dealt with important situations in the past. Let us listen to the still small voice of duty in this critical period of our national history. Let all of us make national prob- lems and difficulties our own. Let every appeal of our national government sink down deep into the heart of every Amer- ican. Let our motto be “Onward” to ev- erything that is pure and good, so that those who have died in past wars and in this present conflict for the freedom of the world, shall not have died in vain, and that this nation founded on the pu- rest and noblest of principles and main- tained by the purest and noblest of men, shall forever stand for freedom, justice, and Democracy. Class Essay— SPENCER W. KING, ’19. CLASS PROPHECY It was one o’clock when I returned that night. Funny I should have kept such a late hour, no doubt I had been studying. Everything was dark, fearfully dark ! In the distance I could hear the groaning pine trees; behind me the sad lapping waves. A peal of thunder suddenly roared across the heavens. Then a flash of light- ning illumined the world. Whose forms were those on yonder rocks ? I stared, but all grew dark as of yore. Could it be, was it possible? I waited for another flash of lightning. Yes, it was they. My dear old friends : Burke, Johnson, Milton and Shakespeare. I called. With eyes accus- tomed to the unshadowed night they came. “Ah” I cried “Dear friends—” “Go, I pray” cried Shakespeare in a ghastly voice. “Yonder lightning will strike thee! Anything we grant thee if thou goest, thou child of the Muses.” I pondered. “Dear, worthy friends,” I cried sudden- ly. “Only this I ask you. Tell me of my beloved classmates.” Shakespeare turned to his companions. All nodded gravely. Burke began in his steady, straightfor- ward voice : “Heartlessly Althea has turned down her suitors. Five committed suicide, three have gone insane. He who won the much desired prize was an admiral in the navy. ’ ’ “All over the tvorld Austin is renowmed and loved : Caverly the worlds greatest violinist.” “Bessie has been married but — ah — I see her seeking a divorce in the high court of New York.” Milton interrupted — ■ 1 He who made the famous remark, “Don’t be so foolish,” now a grave, studious preacher in yonder Rowley resides.” “Golden crowmed Clarice sought a be- autiful youth. Alas — she failed ! Hov r she dwells in a poppy red house in Dan- vers. ’ ’ “Every joy Cora know r s, for on a light fantastic toe she trips.” “I see Jew ett as the world’s greatest ac- tor, acting in the greatest tragedy ever produced in the sun blessed Rome.” Shakespeare wdiispered : “Fair haired Edith, the most studious of them all, has had three husbands and five sons.” ‘ ‘ Blue eyed Ella longed to be a teacher. Long was the longing, for a teacher she still remains.” 9